MOT fail rates by first-use year

2022 BMW X3 MOT fail rate and common faults

How BMW X3 cars first used in 2022 did at their MOTs from 2025 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 7,472 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 3 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 3 (n=7,472)9.3%

All cars at 3 years (n=8,016,463)12.1%

Difference−2.7 pts

MOT tests of 2022 cars, in 20257,472

What stands out

In 2025, at 3 years old, BMW X3 cars first used in 2022 failed 9.3% of MOTs (7,472 tests), 2.7 points below the 12.1% for all cars that age.
BMW X3 cars first used a year earlier, in 2021, failed 11.0% at the same age of 3 years (11,122 tests, in 2024).
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the BMW X3 at 3 years, is engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault, at 0.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

BMW X3 cars first used in 2022: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2025	3 years	9.3%	7,472	12.1%	−2.7 pts

Most common faults at 3 years

These figures cover all BMW X3 MOTs at 3 years: cars first used 2019 to 2022, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=42,930). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear	3.2	1.8
Tyre with cords exposed Wear	1.3	1.0
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear	0.9	1.3
Side repeaters: not working Wear	0.6	0.1
Headlight aimed too high Wear	0.5	0.9
Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear	0.5	0.4
Wipers not clearing screen Wear	0.5	1.9
Engine warning lamp at the diesel emissions check: not working or showing a fault	0.5	0.2
Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements Wear	0.3	0.2
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear	0.3	0.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=42,930). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	11.6	11.8
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt	3.2	2.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	3.0	3.7
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear	2.5	2.0
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre	2.5	2.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear	2.0	1.8
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view	1.8	1.5
Brake pads wearing thin Wear	1.5	4.8
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	0.7	3.9
Wipers: blade defective Wear	0.6	1.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=42,930). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 3 years

These figures cover all BMW X3 MOTs at 3 years: cars first used 2019 to 2022, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=42,930). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Hybrid	41.3%	10.5%	17,742	10.3%	27,117 miles
Diesel	35.9%	9.3%	15,392	15.9%	24,492 miles
Petrol	22.8%	8.1%	9,790	10.6%	20,926 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 3 years

These figures cover all BMW X3 MOTs at 3 years: cars first used 2019 to 2022, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=42,930). At 3 years, BMW X3 cars at 30,000 to 60,000 miles failed more often (12.0%, n=12,771) than those at under 30,000 miles (8.3%, n=28,908). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Under 30,000 miles	8.3%	28,908	9.5%
30,000 to 60,000 miles	12.0%	12,771	16.8%

Car tax rules for a 2022 car

Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
Hybrids follow the Euro standard of their petrol or diesel engine.
The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the BMW X3

2021 BMW X3

Other BMW models first used in 2022

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
BMW 1 Series (2022)	3 years in 2025	8.7%	14,410	12.1%
BMW 3 Series (2022)	3 years in 2025	14.3%	13,409	12.1%
BMW 2 Series (2022)	3 years in 2025	9.9%	10,838	12.1%
BMW X5 (2022)	3 years in 2025	14.9%	7,844	12.1%
BMW 4 Series (2022)	3 years in 2025	11.2%	7,517	12.1%
BMW X1 (2022)	3 years in 2025	8.5%	7,461	12.1%
BMW 5 Series (2022)	3 years in 2025	13.2%	7,099	12.1%

More on the BMW X3

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2022 BMW X3 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.